Influence

Gingrich Stars at Romney Fundraiser

By Chris Frates

Newt Gingrich helped raise about $30,000 for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign as the star attraction of a Monday morning fundraiser for his one-time rival.

"He began with a stinging critique of the Obama administration and then spoke well of the governor and was optimistic about his prospects in the fall and of Republicans in the Congress," said Clark and Weinstock's Ed Kutler, who helped organized the event.

The fundraiser, held at the offices of the lobbying and public affairs firm Mercury/Clark & Weinstock, was organized by former Gingrich staffers looking for a creative way to throw their support behind their former boss's one-time rival.

"We had supported Gingrich outta loyalty but also wanted to do what we could for the Romney campaign and figured it would be fun... to get Newt out and get the former staffers together," said another event organizer, Jack Howard of Wexler & Walker.

Dan Meyer of the Duberstein Group and Arne Christenson of American Express also helped organize the event, which drew between 25 and 30 people.